Press Release

European Public Sector Award 2011 - the call for applications is now open!

The call for applications is now open! Submit your projects for the European Public Sector Award – EPSA 2011 until 25 March 2011.

During a high-level and well-attended event held in the Berlaymont Building of the European Commission in Brussels on 17 January 2011, the European Institute of Public Administration (EIPA) officially launched the European Public Sector Award 2011 (EPSA 2011).

With an audience of approx. 100 stakeholders from European public administrations, the launch event was opened with a word of welcome by Maroš Šefcovic (SK), Vice-President of the European Commission and Commissioner for Inter-Institutional Relations and Administration in Brussels, who pointed out the importance of such schemes despite the current period of crisis, and of valuing the exchange of best practices to further develop these activities within the wider framework of the Europe 2020 Strategy. EIPA’s Director-General, Prof. Dr Marga Pröhl (DE), introduced the EPSA mission, its set-up and key dates. She was also happy to announce that – having recently joined the EPSA 2011 – Denmark is the 11th official country (partner); thus, an encouragement to other countries that there is still time to join the project.

The closing address was made by Dr Norbert Kis (HU), Director-General of the National Institute of Public Administration in Budapest, on behalf of the Hungarian Presidency, who encouraged all public administrations not to miss this excellent opportunity to be showcased to a wider European audience, to be rewarded and to receive valuable input and feedback for their future when submitting their applications.

EPSA 2011 brings together the most innovative, efficient and best performers from the European public sector. Eleven European countries, together with the European Commission, are officially supporting the EPSA. The award contest is open to all levels of Europe’s public administration irrespective of the size or type of administration. Applicants can submit and thus showcase their innovative achievements, in three thematic fields:

- Smart Public Service Delivery in a Cold Economic Climate - Opening up the Public Sector through Collaborative Governance - Going Green: Concrete Solutions from the Public Sector

The three EIPA Theme Leaders and the EPSA 2011 Manager, Mr Alexander Heichlinger, explained all details on the call text, the target group, the application period, the evaluation and selection procedure, as well as the 11 good reasons for participation. For a full description of the conditions of participation, please consult the official EPSA website at www.epsa2011.eu

In order to promote the EPSA 2011 and to attract as many applications as possible, several information days are being organised throughout Europe.

The call for applications was opened on 17 January 2011 and will run until 25 March (24hrs) on the EPSA web portal (www.epsa2011.eu), and all European public organisations are invited to “Assess Yourself and Learn from the Best – Showcasing and Rewarding European Public Excellence”.